Ventura 'Flugtag' team readies for flight over San Francisco waters

After spending three weeks carefully designing and assembling a handmade flying machine, a Ventura group is gearing up to see how far it can go by driving it off a 30-foot pier in San Francisco this weekend.

The Total Zero to Hero team, made up of five Ventura residents, is hauling its contraption north to participate in the Red Bull Flugtag on Saturday. Flugtag, which means "flying day" in German, will feature 35 teams selected to show — and fly — their stuff before a crowd expected to reach more than 50,000 people.

"We are just hoping to have fun," said Monte Crofts, flight crew member.

Crofts, along with Lindsey Jensen, Alex Koulakoff Sr., and Alex Koulakoff Jr. were working under the command of the group's pilot Dan Brill. Team Total Zero to Hero is participating in the event to support the Ventura chapter of the Best Day Foundation.

Brill said he looks for any opportunity to spread awareness of the foundation, which is dedicated to providing special-needs youths and their families with fun-filled events. Organized by experienced team leaders, the activities include body boarding, kayaking and snow tubing and are intended to help the youths build confidence and self esteem.

"By the end of the day, not only the kids have the best day, but everyone involved," said Nancy Pedersen, Ventura chapter co-chairwoman. "The kids get to do things their families may not have the means or the capability to do themselves."

With chapters in Ventura and Santa Barbara, the foundation events run primarily during the summer at no cost to the families. The Ventura leaders plan to host at least six daylong events from June to October next year.

The Total Zero to Hero team will be flying a blue glider-like machine Saturday for the foundation and its other sponsors, including Red Bull. The machine has glider wings attached to a surfboard on wheels.

A short, 30-second skit will kick off the team's launch. The performance will finish with a short dance number to a clip of the song "Highway to the Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins.

Brill will operate the contraption, and the team will push it off the pier. Brill will try to glide as far as possible before landing in the bay waters of McCovey Cove.

"It's not so bad," Brill said. "I'm used to big waves surfing and big wipeouts. It's not as bad as that."

Brill participated in the Long Beach Flugtag in 2010 with a machine with a similar design. His team placed eighth that year. The Total Zero to Hero team is looking for a top-three finish.